Ryan Bertrand Great Player

[Lofty.]

I apologise if there already is a Ryan Bertrand topic. I've searched but failed to find one.

He's now 22 years old, has been at the club for seven years, which to my way of thinking, makes him a product of the Chelsea youth system. Not only that but a successful product of that self-same much-criticised youth system who looks to have a very bright future with the club.

He has proven to be a reliable stand-in for Ashley Cole, which is in itself testimony to his ability and potential. According to the article linked to below, there's even better news in that the club are 'planning contract talks with Ryan Bertrand to keep him from the clutches of interested rivals.'

http://www.dailymail...-exclusive.html

Oh and he's a South Londoner!

[That Boy Brandinho]

I like him. It was a mistake to never play him early in the season, but he acquitted himself well enough when he was given opportunities later in the year. Ashley's not getting any younger, so it's great to have him around.

[KrazyTea]

Love Bertrand, not too sure where his ceiling lies as I don't wanna seem like I'm drinking the koolaid too much, but if he could actually fill Cole's shoes as a starter that would be fantastic. The fact that he is a club product and Londoner as well would only add to it.

[evissy]

The club and the future manager who ever that is has to make a decision to give Bertrand good amount of games next season. I know there isn't easy games in Premier league but I would play him every time we face a lesser team at home. Cole has to be fresh and ready for the big games and Ryan needs those minutes. Only way he will come good. I'd nail him to start every Carling Cup game. What better way to give the youngsters a chance to prove themselves.

[Zola]

He's absolutely proved himself.

[Mata10]

When he's been asked to step up, he's done just that. I've been very impressed with Ryan, he's looking more and more like a quality player. Although, we need to remember that Ashley is an excellent left back and in my opinion, he's still one of the best in the world. He may be 31, but he still has a fair amount of pace left in him. During the latter stages of the season, Ashley was top notch.

I agree with evissy, I'd certainly start him in the Carling Cup and use him in some matches against weaker opposition.

[andy]

I apologise if there already is a Ryan Bertrand topic. I've searched but failed to find one.

He's now 22 years old, has been at the club for seven years, which to my way of thinking, makes him a product of the Chelsea youth system. Not only that but a successful product of that self-same much-criticised youth system who looks to have a very bright future with the club.

He has proven to be a reliable stand-in for Ashley Cole, which is in itself testimony to his ability and potential. According to the article linked to below, there's even better news in that the club are 'planning contract talks with Ryan Bertrand to keep him from the clutches of interested rivals.'

http://www.dailymail...-exclusive.html

Oh and he's a South Londoner!

So the first one since Terry ?..

Delighted and very happy with Betrand, come on the rest it is do'able !

[Little Boy Blue]

Love Bertrand, not too sure where his ceiling lies as I don't wanna seem like I'm drinking the koolaid too much, but if he could actually fill Cole's shoes as a starter that would be fantastic. The fact that he is a club product and Londoner as well would only add to it.

We bought him from Gillingham . . . . . . . I think

[Mata10]

Yep, we bought him from Gillingham. Wasn't he a winger when we signed him?

[Lofty.]

We bought him from Gillingham . . . . . . . I think

Aye we did, but that was seven years ago. And as he's now 22, that makes him a product of the youth system, as andy says above the first, (and hopefully the first of many) genuine successful product of the youth system since John Terry - who incidentally joined the club from West Ham when he was 15!.

[Little Boy Blue]

Aye we did, but that was seven years ago. And as he's now 22, that makes him a product of the youth system, as andy says above the first, (and hopefully the first of many) genuine successful product of the youth system since John Terry - who incidentally joined the club from West Ham when he was 15!.

fair enough

[CacOBG]

Hope he gets more playing time. He was quite good late in the season when given a chance. With Ashley getting older every season, I can see Ryan getting more and more chances until he becomes our starting LB (Ashley is 32 and half - 2 season top football at most for a full back)

[rahul]

I guess this means Patrick van Aanholt will go on another loan?

[Ozztheboss]

I guess this means Patrick van Aanholt will go on another loan?

I am a bit ambivalent towards PvA. He has extreme qualities that Bertrand doesn't have offensively (crosses and lightning speed), but lacks concentration and is still young. I fear that another loan will kill his career, especially if he's not given adequate playing time.

[charierre]

Good to see us planning for the future with Ryan. A new contract rewards him for his patience and will also deter suitors who think he might be available on the cheap.

[Uno]

Im really pleased for the guy that he has finally been given a chance. How ever i cant see Ashley being very happy being left out much next season.

I have no doubt that Ryan can do the job and will grow to be a fantastic LB but with Cole still at the club he will more than likely be playing second fidle for some time to come.

[rvrocelot]

we should play him out on the left have him and cole linking up together would be fantastic and then when cole decides to retire we have a ready made replacement that has learnt and played with the best

[J.J]

There was one stat I heard when Cole was suspended and Bertrand first came into the team that Cole had played over 65 games in a row, at full back of all places.

It's easy to forget with the latter European heroics, but imo Ash had a below-par season and looked exhausted at times, this is why. The worst part about this, as we now know, is we had a reliable understudy the whole time kicking his heels. It's why I was so against the mooted Perreira transfer in summer.

Always wanted Bertrand in particular to be trusted (have done on my Football Manager's for years!). He'd played over 150 first team games through loans before this year ffs, and had really impressed all my Championship-supporting mates as well as myself.

Really glad for him still, have to respect the way he's been so determined to get his break at our club too. This season really was make or break for his future with us and another top 6 team would've reaped the benefits ('Pool/Newcastle/Spurs), thank god for Robbie's willingness to use the whole squad.

edit; for the record he's done practically nothing wrong this year aswell, only negative I can really remember was him getting turned a couple times by Moses against Wigan, Fulham and Arsenal stand out as particularly good performances.

Edited June 4, 2012 by J.J

[Zeta]

I would like to see Bertrand getting at least 10-15 PL starts next season. Obviously Ash will still be first choice for the big games, but Ryan can come in and deputise quite a lot. As for PVA...Meh, I don't think he's really got a chance of making it here.

[BaneIvanovic]

He's definitely proved to be the real deal and shown he's capable of replacing Ash within the next 2 years.

PVA on the other hand, I feel will just end up going on loans and end up merely being a squad player (when he was at Wigan, there were noises made about how he had some 'attitude' problems in the sense that he came to the club with the aura about him thinking he was a starter from Day 1 etc)

[J.J]

It's a shame with PvA tbh, Newcastle in the League Cup a while back (the one where Josh wowed a lot of people, 4-3 loss) he looked so threatening down the left hand side, I was advocating his inclusion in the squad as an alternative on the left to Malouda, but with our recent summer activity it doesn't look like he has a future here.

[Remodez]

I can't wait to see Bertrand with an England shirt on.

[torres9]

I hope that with the spending that's happening now, Bertrand can still be involved. He's a very good prospect and put in a great shift on the left hand side of midfield when asked. Ashley isn't getting any younger I suppose, so the lad being around the team is a big bonus!

[The Moos]

I hope that with the spending that's happening now, Bertrand can still be involved. He's a very good prospect and put in a great shift on the left hand side of midfield when asked. Ashley isn't getting any younger I suppose, so the lad being around the team is a big bonus!

I think he will play, though perhaps not very often. There will be games like the one against Bayern Munich so I can see Bertrand perhaps have a chance to play out wide at midfield. And, as you point out, Cole isn't getting any younger. He looked tired at times this season, so hopefully the manager will rotate him and Bertrand.

[Zeta]

It depends who the manager is really. RDM gave Bertrand a short, more so than any other manager we've had. So if we replace him with someone else, he may just come in and want a new LB..